Astro deploying new IPTV packages

Integrated cross-media Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd group will present the first phase of new packages of Internet Protocol television (IPTV) at the end of the year through a 10-year exclusive partnership with Maxis Bhd.

Astro has named Maxis, a provider of integrated communications services, as their fiber broadband service provider significantly expand the footprint of the Astro IPTV service and provide service of IPTV content for the next three years.

"A number of packets is under construction at the moment and in the next quarter or two, so is the marketing packages" Maxis Director Executive Sandip Das said recently. Maxis customers will also have access to a specially developed content of Astro package although with a different treatment.

"Our strategy is to look for opportunities to grow the business, as we have already penetrated 50% of Malaysian households, serving to 3.10 million homes." We do not see any stagnation of growth and are far from saturation point. "We have every intention to grow our market share of TV pay and this agreement is a progression of our business roll-out," said Astro Executive Director Datuk Rohana Rozhan.

He said the collaboration with Maxis gives Astro a 1.30 million of additional fiber homes passed as immediately accessible markets for Astro B.yond IPTV, where customers can enjoy the best of Star TV and radio, as well as high speed broadband.

Astro is focused in four key companies i.e., pay TV, radio, content and digital and an operator key pay-TV in Southeast Asia. Since its launch in 2011, Maxis House had more than 57,000 customers, including 9.352 wireless fiber home and more than 27,000 home Internet users and subscribers , with the balance of asymmetrical digital subscriber line and plain old phone subscribers.

With its fiber home Internet, currently available to 1.30 million households and its wireless Internet service with coverage of the population of 82%, Maxis said it offers fast, reliable internet to more than 6 million households in Malaysia.

With revenues of billions of RM8.8 last year, Maxis was the first to commercialize 3G mobile services in Malaysia and has greater footprint with 95% of 2 G mobile network and 81% high speed 3G nationwide coverage.

Astro is owned and operated by Star TV network system Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Astro Malaysia Holdings Sdn Bhdthat owned by Astro Holdings Sdn Bhd, has operations in all Asia Broadcast Centre in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Measat in Putrajaya.
In addition to serving consumers at home, the Astro has substantial coverage in shops such as bars, restaurants, hotels, residences and hospitals. Since 2008, Astro offers a video streaming service to the users of mobile phone nationwide (Astro Mobile TV) and subsequently Astro B.yond mobile.